Center MP apologizes to owners of cars with Russian license plates on behalf of Estonia

TALLINN – Andrei Korobeinik, a member of the parliamentary group of the opposition Center Party, issued a comment live on the Dozhd TV channel on news that Estonia plans to start confiscating vehicles with Russian license plates driving around here and apologized to the owners of such vehicles, the daily Postimees writes.

"I am very sorry. I apologize on behalf of Estonia that it happened this way. I hope we draw conclusions and can prevent the worst," he said in response to presenter Anna Mongait's comment that the potential confiscation of vehicles with Russian license plates will not only impact Russian propagandists, but also those trying to escape Russia.

Korobeinik said that the confiscation of cars is supported by individual politicians and ministers in Estonia. According to him, cars with Russian license plates usually belong to those who have received asylum in Estonia.

"These are Russians and also Ukrainians. I would like to remind that before the war, about two million Ukrainian citizens lived in Russia, some of whom moved to Estonia with cars registered in Russia," Korobeinik said.

In addition, car owners will now head to Russia to sell their cars there.

"Thus, Estonia is supporting the aftermarket of cars in Russia, which is also generally not very logical. It is very difficult for me to imagine that some Russian oligarch who came to Estonia with his used foreign car will be subject to these sanctions. In my opinion, this is an example of how politicians act first and think later," Korobeinik said.